Traction-band for wheels.



PATENTBD APR. 19,1904.

LBGRAN KNIFFE-N. TRACTION BANDF'OR WHEELS.

, APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 28, 1903.

80 IODBL.

eases:

UNITED STATES PatentedApril 19, 1904.

P TENT OFFICE.

TRACTION-BAND FOR WHEELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,471, dated April 19, 1904. Application filed September 28, 1903. Serial No. 174,870. model.)

T0 all'whom it may concern: Be it known that I, LE GRAND KNIFFEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traction-Bands for Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in a traction band or attachment to be applied to vehicle-wheels, and while .it is more especially applicable for use on wheels of that class of vehicles or machines which carry gearing operated by the rotation of the tractionwheels to perform various functions--such as in the case of manure-Spreaders, mowing-machines, fertilizer-distributers, and the like where it is desirable to have continuous rotation of the traction-wheels, so as to afford positive and continuous action of thegearing driven thereby, yet it may be applied to wheels of other kinds of vehicles; and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement, and operation of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a traction band or attachment which shall be so constructed as to increase the rolling friction between the wheels and the road or ground on which they travel, thus preventing them slipping.

Another object of the invention'is to construct the band or attachment in such a manner that it will automatically discharge in the rotation of the wheel to which it is applied mud or earth adhering or clinging thereto.

Another object is to form the band so that it may be adjusted to wheels of different sizes and may be easily repaired in the event of any of its parts being broken.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in the subjoined description and explanation.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention pertains to make and use the same, Iwill now proceed to describe it, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a wheel with a traction-band embodying one view of one-of the ends of one ofthe links comprising the band. Fig. 6 is a view of the other end of said link, showing it interlocked -with the adjacent link thereto. Fig. 7- is a reduced plan or face View of a portion of the band, showing a modification in its construction; and Fig. 8 is a similarview of one of the interlocking links. comprlsingsaid modilied form.

Like numeralsof reference refer to corresponding parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

' The band comprises a series of open and interlocking links which are counterparts of one another and are substantially diamondshaped in outline. Each of these links consists of two slightly-curved members 15, having their ends approximated and united by raised transverse portions 16 and 17 the portion 16 being provided on its inner surface, or that surface adjacent to the tire or felly 18 of the wheel 19, with a recess 20 to receive the members 15 of the adjoining link near their ends. The transverse portion 17 on each of the links extends laterally beyond each side of-the members 15 and is slightly raised outwardly, so as to rest on the outer surface of the flattened or reduced portions 21 of the members 15, which reduced portions diverge and extend to about the middle of the members 15, or the widest portion of the link. From the inner ends of the reduced parts 21 the members 15 are enlarged to form outwardly-raised parts 22, which extend to the transverse portion 17 as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. Each of the members 15 is provided on its surface adjacent to the tire or felly 18 with a lug 23, which engages the edge of the tire or felly, as is apparent. V

By reference to the drawings and from the foregoing it will be seen and clearly understood that the links may be joined together, so as to form a continuous piece or band of engage the portion 17 of the adjoining main surface at each end of the transverse portion link, and the link 28 is provided with atrans- Verse portion 30 to engagethe portion 16 of I the link adjacent thereto. Each of the adjusting-links 27 and 28 is provided on its inner 26 with an inwardly-projecting lug 31 to engage the edge of the tire 18 or felly.

In Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings I have shown a modification in the construction of the links comprising the band or attachment, each of which consists of a diamond-shaped link provided at one of its ends with a countersunk T- shaped extension 33, which engages the adja cent end of the adjoining link. As shown in Fig. 8, the countersunk recess 32 is formed on the inner surface of the link, or that surfac'eadjacent t0 the tire when the band is in position on the wheel. The inner surface of the link is also provided at its widest portion and on each edge thereof with a lug 34 to engage the edge of the tire or felly. The outer surface of one end of each of the links in this modified construction is provided with a groove 35 to receive a portion of the extension 33 on the adjacent link. Two of the parallel portions of the members 36 comprising thelinks of the modified form shown in Figs. 7 and8 are outwardly raised, as at 37, while the other two parallel portions are depressed or flattened, as at 38, which construction will cause the mud or earth to slide obliquely from the tire of the wheel in its revolution, whereas in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the mud or earth clinging to the wheel will be discharged through the openings provided by means of 1thekflattened or reducedportions 21 of the in s.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the band or attachment can be readily applied to the tire of the wheel by simply tightening the nuts 25 on the bolts 24, which, together with adjustingslinks 27 and 28, may be employed on either of the constructions.

In the event of one of the links being broken it is evident that it may be readily replaced and the band again attached to the wheel.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A traction-band, comprising a series of interlocking links havinglugs on one of their surfaces to engage the tire or felly, and means to tighten the band circumferentially on the wheel, substantially as described.

2. A traction-band comprising a series of interlocking links having lugs on their inner surfaces to engage the tire or felly and raised portions on their outer surfaces, and meansto tighten the band circumferentially on the wheel, substantially as described.

3. A traction-band comprising a series of links united together, each link consisting of two members having their ends approximated and provided at one of their ends with a recess and at their other ends with a transverse 

